How often hypo?

General
21

If it helps:

Both my Tandem t:slim pump and Dexcom consider (based on American Diabetes Association recommendations) 70-180 to be within target range.

The pump’s Control IQ algorithm (which adjusts the basal background insulin dosage) aims for 112.5 - 160 normally, 112.5 - 120 during sleep (when you shouldn’t have meal spikes and your metabolism should be slow and steady), and 140 - 160 when you’re exercising (so you don’t accidentally go low with both insulin and exercise working to bring your sugars down).

And, again, if you’re going based on CGM:

  1. A CGM has a 20% error factor.
  2. A CGM has a time lag compared to blood glucose readings.
  3. If you’re low enough to be symptomatic, you could be causing brain damage. The brain uses a lot of oxygen and a lot of sugar to keep working, and if it doesn’t get enough, neurons can be permanently damaged.

So be careful about how low you go and how long you stay there. Your CGM may say you’re at 80, but with the error factor, you could be lower than that. And lower still if your sugar level is dropping and the CGM readings are behind.

22

Thank you for the info!

23

Hi Becky,

I was told that 1 - 2 severe lows was the most I should have - - severe low being a hypo you cannot self-treat. Hypos that you can self-treat I was told not to worry about as much. Basically, if you can take care of it, it is not a concern. When it gets to where you cannot treat yourself, then it is.

So, rather than worry about how many lows, I look at how low I am. If I am at 70, I can easily eat something. But if I am at 40, I’m probably going to the emergency room or being given Glucagon by someone.

Pam K
T1D 57 years and counting!

1 Like